Wednesday was the Feast of St. Mark the Evangelist, which gives us a good opportunity to pause and reflect on the meaning of evangelism, and how we are meant to evangelize. First off, let's dispel with any perceived differences around the term "Evangelical Christianity," and the socio-political implications of that phrase. Wherever you fall in … Continue reading Crying out in the wilderness — a reflection on love
Month: April 2018
Finding our identity in Christ
This post originally was delivered as a sermon for the Third Sunday of Easter at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Enid, Okla., Sunday, 15 April, 2018. Readings are from the Revised Common Lectionary Year B. Mr. Ralph Alsman, of Brookville, Ind., was by most standards an unremarkable man. The 25 year-old man led a fairly normal … Continue reading Finding our identity in Christ
Stephen Ministry: Expanding the church’s reach
ENID, Okla. — “Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” That verse, Galatians 6:2, describes the Stephen Ministries mission to organize and train lay ministers to “provide one-to-one Christian care to hurting people in and around the congregation,” the group’s website states. Stephen Ministries is a group … Continue reading Stephen Ministry: Expanding the church’s reach
Focusing on our common bonds in Christ
Christians have worked for 500 years to break up and diminish the Body of Christ. From the wars of Reformation and Counter-Reformation to centuries of hatred, persecution and misunderstanding between our various (and many) denominations, Christianity over the last half-millennium has struggled to be a cohesive faith with a unified message. We’ve made great strides … Continue reading Focusing on our common bonds in Christ
Our call, beyond the tomb
He is risen. Those three simple words tell us the meaning of Easter. Christ was crucified. Christ is risen. After suffering death on the cross and descending to the dead, Jesus conquered death, rose again and forever opened the door for us to follow him out of the grave. The first evangelism of Christ’s resurrection … Continue reading Our call, beyond the tomb
King’s struggle remains relevant
America paused Wednesday to remember Martin Luther King Jr. on the 50th anniversary of his assassination. It’s good to honor MLK. But, too often, we confine him to sentimental memory. A great man, dead too soon. With our obligatory honor paid, we box up the injustices against which Dr. King fought, and file them away … Continue reading King’s struggle remains relevant